Council Staff Training

Q: How long are the courses?

Keys Training offers full-day courses (9:30am to 4:30pm) and short, focused 90-minute bitesize sessions delivered in-person or live via Teams. Contact us to discuss the right format for your team.

Q: How many staff can attend?

Group sizes vary depending on needs, from 1-to-1 sessions up to groups of 24. In-house fees include up to 10 attendees with a small per-person charge above that.

Q: Can the content be tailored to our department?

Yes, tailoring is included. The trainer speaks with you before the course to understand attendee roles and builds in real council documents, systems and scenarios.

Q: Do you accept council purchase orders and supplier portals?

Yes. Keys Training accepts purchase orders from councils and combined authorities and can invoice through supplier portals where required.

Q: Which councils has Keys Training worked with?

Keys Training has delivered training for district, borough, city, county and unitary councils and combined authorities across the UK for over 15 years, including Manchester City Council, Bradford Council, Gloucestershire County Council, Northumberland County Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority. References from council L&D contacts are available on request.

Council & Local Authority Staff Training · UK-wide

Training Courses for Council & Local Authority Staff

Instructor-led Microsoft, administration and management training for council and local authority teams, delivered at your offices, remotely via Teams or at our public venues with public-sector rates. Trusted by local authorities and combined authorities for over 15 years.

Get a council training quote Call 0345 450 0051

Certificated training
Onsite, remote or public
90-minute bitesize or full-day sessions
Volume discounts on 5+ courses

Trusted by Manchester City Council Bradford Council Gloucestershire County Council Northumberland County Council West Yorkshire Combined Authority Liverpool City Council Bolton Council and councils UK-wide

Why councils choose Keys Training®

Training that fits around busy council services

We've supported local authorities and combined authorities for over 15 years, so our trainers understand the realities of council working: scrutiny, resident-facing pressures and the systems your teams actually use. We create solutions for council teams and work around your working conditions rather than expecting you to fit ours.

Keys Training Excel course delivered in-house for council staff — Excel Introduction course delivered in-house at Chorley Council

15+

Proven local authority track record

Over 15 years delivering external training to district, borough, city and county councils, with consistently positive attendee feedback.

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Bitesize or full-day sessions

90-minute bitesize sessions or full days, in-person or via Teams. Group sizes flex from 1-to-1 up to 24.

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Tailored to your council

Your trainer calls before the course to build in real council documents, systems and scenarios.

Public-sector pricing

Fixed in-house fees, public-sector rates on public courses and volume discounts on multi-course purchase orders.

Popular council courses

Training courses for council & local authority staff

Every course below can be delivered in-house at your offices or remotely via Teams. Click a course for the full outline or browse the full course finder.

Microsoft & digital skills

Administration & communication skills

Minute Taking Skills

Accurate, concise minutes for committee, cabinet and departmental meetings.View course →

Chairing Effective Meetings

Confident, well-run meetings for panels, committees and working groups.View course →

Report Writing

Structure, clarity and evidence for council reports and committee papers.View course →

Clear Business Writing

Plain-English emails, letters and resident-facing communications.View course →

Customer Service Skills

Resident and service-user experience for reception, contact centre and support teams.View course →

Speaking & Presenting with Confidence

Confident presentations, briefings and committee updates.View course →

Management & personal effectiveness

Management Skills for Emerging Managers

For team leaders and newly promoted managers across council services.View course →

Finance for Non-Financial Managers

Budgets, cost centres and financial reporting for council managers.View course →

Time & Priority Management

Managing competing demands and workload in a busy council environment.View course →

Assertiveness & Confidence Skills

Clear, respectful communication with colleagues, members and residents.View course →

Conflict Management

De-escalation and resolution skills for front-line and admin staff.View course →

More office & personal development courses

Disability awareness, GDPR, stress management, emotional intelligence and more.Browse all →

How council training is delivered

In-house, remote or public: you choose

In-house at your council

Our trainer comes to your offices, depot or service location and delivers a small classroom session for your team.

Tailored to your roles and systems
90-minute bitesize or full-day formats
Groups from 1-to-1 up to 24
Fixed fee per course, not per person
Trainer travel included

Remote via Microsoft Teams

Live, instructor-led sessions your staff can join from any site. Ideal for multi-site authorities and hybrid teams.

Same trainer-led interaction as classroom
Short 90-minute virtual sessions for busy teams
90-minute bitesize sessions suit shift and service patterns
Bespoke 1-to-1 days available
Teams invites managed by us

Public courses with public-sector rates

Send one or two people to a scheduled course at one of our UK venues at a reduced fee for public-sector attendees.

Microsoft public dates
Office skills public dates
Small groups, certificate and refreshments included

Council training costs

Clear, public-sector-friendly pricing

Guide prices are shown below. Your quote will confirm the exact fee for your course, group size and location. All prices exclude VAT.

Option	Guide price	What's included
In-house Microsoft 365 & Copilot course at your offices	£645 + VAT	Up to 10 attendees; £35 + VAT per additional person. Tailoring, handouts, trainer travel and certificates included.
In-house business skills / soft skills course at your offices	£745 + VAT	Up to 10 attendees; £35 + VAT per additional person. Tailoring, handouts, trainer travel and certificates included.
In-person or virtual bitesize session (90 minutes)	Contact us	Short, focused session on a single topic, delivered at your offices or live via Teams. Get in touch to discuss content and pricing for your team.
Remote instructor-led Microsoft 365 & Copilot day via Teams	£595 + VAT	Live virtual classroom for small groups (up to 4).
Remote instructor-led day via Teams (other skills)	£645 + VAT	Live virtual classroom for small groups (up to 4).
Public course place (public-sector rate)	Public-sector discount	Reduced fee per person for public-sector attendees; includes reference material, certificate and refreshments.
Volume purchase order (5+ courses)	Discounted	Book five or more courses on one PO and run them at any point in the next 12 months.

All our courses can take groups of up to 10 attendees as standard — for larger groups, please enquire and we'll discuss the options with you.

Purchase orders welcome. Invoices can be raised to your council's finance team or supplier portal. See also our Excel training fees.

Booking is simple

From enquiry to certificates in four steps

Tell us what your team needs

Call or email with the course, rough numbers and location. We'll recommend the right level and format. No hard sell.

Pick a date, raise a PO

We send available trainer dates and a written quotation. You confirm with a purchase order and we reserve your trainer.

Pre-course tailoring

Your trainer calls to understand attendee roles and gather real examples. Pre-course evaluation forms help pitch the level correctly.

Training day and follow-up

Course delivered 9:30 to 4:30 (or your times). Attendees receive certificates, reference material and free post-course email support.

Every council course includes

Support before, during and after

A dedicated account manager for your council
Pre-course evaluation forms to set the right level
Help planning and customising closed courses
Course certificates for staff training and CPD records
Quality reference materials to keep
Post-course management feedback reviews
Free post-course telephone and email support
Trainer personality matched to your team

Where we train

Nationwide, at your site or ours

Our trainers travel to council sites throughout the UK. Public courses run at venues in:

PrestonLiverpoolManchesterLeedsBirminghamLondon

See all training locations →

Very good pace, course tailored to the audience. Well worth it!

Michal, West Yorkshire Combined Authority

What council staff say

Testimonials from council staff we've trained

Feedback from attendees across district, borough, city and county councils, all received in the last year.

The training and trainer were amazing. Delivered the course great and took the time to explain all the relevant information at a pace that was great.

NathanManchester City Council

I found the training really helpful. The trainer was very engaging, and the course was well thought out and delivered. This will be very helpful in my role, and I will be able to apply the learning and techniques discussed.

VickyNorthumberland County Council

I thought the way the training was presented and taught was very effective. I felt I had really learned a lot just by the lunch break and loved all the shortcuts and extra information.

AdeleArun Council

I found the course very useful and it went at a good speed, not too fast. I would definitely recommend it to others.

KatherineWealden Council

The course was very informative and kept us interested right up to the end.

HannahSt Helens Council

The trainer was really good. We had different levels of experience, and he catered for everyone. The training flowed well.

ChrisLiverpool City Council

The trainer was confident and knowledgeable. He was a good listener and thought on his feet. He was friendly and engaging.

AndrewGloucestershire Council

Excellent trainer - really liked his style.

VickiHorsham District Council

Robert was fantastic and shared very useful tips and tricks. I am looking forward to next week's intermediate course.

MahsamBradford Council

References from council L&D contacts are available on request. See more client testimonials.

Council training FAQs

Questions council L&D teams ask us

What council training courses does Keys Training provide?

Keys Training® provides training for council and local authority staff: Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, Power BI, Project), Microsoft Copilot, minute taking, chairing meetings, report writing, clear business writing, customer service, assertiveness, conflict management, time management, project management, finance for non-financial managers and management skills for emerging managers. We do not provide mandatory statutory, safeguarding or compliance training.

Can the training be delivered at our council offices?

Yes. Most council courses are delivered in-house at your offices by a Keys Training trainer. Courses can also be delivered remotely via Microsoft Teams. Individuals can also attend scheduled public courses at venues across the UK.

How much does council staff training cost?

In-house Microsoft 365 & Copilot courses are £645 + VAT, and in-house business skills or soft skills courses are £745 + VAT, both for up to 10 attendees at your offices (additional attendees £35 + VAT each). Remote instructor-led Microsoft 365 & Copilot days via Teams are £595 + VAT, and remote days for other skills are £645 + VAT. Larger groups can be arranged — just enquire to discuss. 90-minute bitesize sessions, public course places and volume purchase orders are also available. Public-sector attendees receive a discount on public courses and volume discounts apply when five or more courses are booked on one purchase order.

Are the courses CPD accredited?

Our courses are not currently CPD accredited. Every attendee receives a Keys Training course certificate that can be added to their professional development record, and we're happy to discuss accreditation requirements for your team.

How long are the courses?

We offer two formats: full days (9:30am to 4:30pm) and short, focused 90-minute bitesize sessions delivered in-person at your offices or live via Teams. Get in touch and we'll help you pick the right format for your team.

How many staff can attend?

Group sizes vary depending on your needs, from 1-to-1 sessions up to groups of 24. We will advise on the right size for the course so everyone gets practical, hands-on support. In-house fees include up to 10 attendees, with a small per-person charge above that.

Can the content be tailored to our department?

Yes, tailoring is included. Your trainer will speak with you before the course to understand attendee roles and build in real council documents, systems and scenarios so the learning is immediately usable back at work.

Do you accept council purchase orders and supplier portals?

Yes. We work with council procurement and finance teams every week. We accept purchase orders and can invoice through supplier portals where required.

Which councils have you worked with?

We have delivered training for district, borough, city, county and unitary councils and combined authorities across the UK for over 15 years, including Manchester City Council, Bradford Council, Gloucestershire County Council, Northumberland County Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority. References from council L&D contacts are available on request.

Ready to arrange council staff training?

Tell us the course, numbers and location and we'll come back with dates and a written quote, usually the same working day.

Make an enquiry About tailored in-house courses

Call 0345 450 0051 · Email [email protected]